Foal Registration Changes Trigger Outcry
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
The Racing Australia Board July 4 announced controversial new rules for the registration of Thoroughbred foals and their owners that bring them under the Australian Rules of Racing despite an outcry from breeders.
The board said in a press release the rules are in the "best long-term interest" of the Australian Thoroughbred industry. Basil Nolan, president of the nation's Thoroughbred Breeders Association, has previously called the move a power grab by Racing Australia.
"The Racing Australia Board has unanimously agreed that new Australian Rules of Racing and Stud Book Rules will be introduced to make acceptance into the Stud Book conditional on foals being registered within 30 days of foaling and their beneficial owners being declared within a further 30 days," the board said in a press release.
The board also said it believes that these reforms will strengthen ownership transparency and traceability, leading to improved integrity and animal welfare in the Thoroughbred Industry.
Racing Australia said that taking into account concerns expressed by stakeholders during the consultation process, it has determined the following:
—An invitation will be extended for a Thoroughbred Breeders Australia representative to join Racing Australia's rule-making advisory body, the Integrity and Welfare Executive Committee (IWEC), on occasions when relevant rules are under consideration.
—Each Principal Racing Authority will ensure suitably qualified stewards are responsible for the enforcement of the new ownership rules.
"Racing Australia has reaffirmed its desire for a constructive working relationship with stakeholders in the implementation of these reforms which are in the best long-term interests of the entire Australian Thoroughbred Industry," the board said.
The reforms will be enacted by way of a clause being added to the Stallion Return, Mare Return, and New Breeder Registration Form of the Stud Book wherein owners acknowledge that they will come under the rules of racing if they have an ownership interest in a foal or Thoroughbred.